Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Three weeks until funding starts to dry up for bridge and road projects across the United States , House and Senate committees Thursday put Congress on track toward a deal to avoid construction shutdowns and to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund operating until early next summer .

But even as Republicans and Democrats drew closer together , some in the transportation industry decried the nearly $ 11 billion proposals as short-term fixes that leave the nation 's bigger infrastructure issues untouched .

House and Senate day of action

Without an infusion of cash to the highway fund , the Department of Transportation has warned that road projects may have to start shutting down in August .

After months of failed negotiations , key House and Senate committees passed proposals Thursday that were relatively close in scope and content . Previous drafts had differed in the source and size of funding , as well as how long that funding would last .

Thursday both the Republican-led House Ways & Means Committee and the Democratic-led Senate Finance Committee passed bills with the same central dollar figure , $ 10.8 billion . That 's enough to keep the fund in business until roughly next summer .

The two sides also moved closer on where to get the money .

The Senate committee adopted a House idea , including something called pension smoothing , which allows employers to set aside less money for long-term pension funding . One key difference -- the House bill has a more expanded version of the money-raiser , bringing in three times as much money from pension-smoothing than the Senate .

The bills are much closer on the amount of money they 'd raise from an extended increase in customs fees . And they would each transfer $ 1 billion out of funds for underground storage leaks .

Republican and Democratic senators stressed they had made compromises .

Finance Chairman Ron Wyden had previously insisted on a long-term deal .

`` Colleagues , I want it understood that -LRB- pushing for a longer-term solution -RRB- was my position at the beginning of the negotiations , '' the Oregon Democrat said to his committee . `` But it was clear that it would not be possible to reach a bipartisan agreement -LRB- for a longer-term deal -RRB- . ''

His Republican counterpart echoed the story of tradeoffs . `` While I wo n't say I 've gotten everything I wanted , '' ranking Republican Orrin Hatch admitted , '' I will say I think we 've reached a deal that can satisfy both Democrats and Republicans . ''

Differences remain

Both bills passed their respective committees on relatively easy voice votes Thursday . But even as they issued warm statements across the north-south axis of the Capitol , lawmakers warned of the remaining differences ahead .

`` I commend Chairman Wyden and Senator Hatch for putting together a bill that provides roughly $ 11 billion , as we did , '' wrote House Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp in a statement . `` However ... it is inconceivable that the House would , as the Senate proposes to do , grant the IRS additional authority to audit and investigate taxpayers simply so Washington can spend more money . ''

Camp 's office would not confirm it , but the Michigan Republican seemed to be objecting to a Senate provision that would increase the amount of time the IRS has to audit taxpayers who incorrectly estimate property values , from three years now to six years . That measure alone raises over $ 1 billion .

Each bill is expected to pass its respective chamber , with the House planning to vote on its version next week . Then the two sides must quickly agree to a compromise bill if they want to keep money flowing and avoid construction slowdowns starting in August .

Transportation group fires back

As lawmakers breathe a cautious sigh of relief and move toward avoiding another crisis , some in the road construction industry see little reason to celebrate .

`` These actions are the latest ` punt and leave the stadium ' strategy that has plagued the federal surface transportation program for far too long , '' wrote Pete Ruane , president of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association .

His group and others have been clamoring for a long-term fix , after 11 stopgap measures in five years . But the politics are a problem . The highway fund currently relies on six types of taxes , including the federal gas tax . And Republicans ' anti-tax mantra has prevented all but a few from supporting any increase in those fees .

Hence , what could be a rare ahead-of-deadline deal in Congress looks like continued instability and lack-of-decision to those in road construction .

`` Our message to Congress is simple : your job is n't close to being done , '' Ruane concluded .

Feds warn states : Road construction money running out

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The DOT has warned that without an infusion of cash , road projects might start shutting

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Key House and Senate committees pass proposals to avoid that

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But some in transportation industry decry short-term fixes instead of longer-range plans